Weed-exterminator.



No. 812,616. PATENTED FEB. 13, 1906. H. THOENI. WEED EXTERMINATOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27. 1905;

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HERMAN THOENI, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ALBERT J. BURT, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

WEED-EXTERMIINATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1906.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, HERMAN THoENI, a citizen of the Republic of Switzerland, but having declared my intention of becoming a citizen of the United States, residing at Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Weed Exterminators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Thisinvention relates to an implement b means of which noxious plants or weeds, sucli as dandelions and the like, may be readily exterminated. I

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is compact in form, readily portable, and adapted to be operated by hand. 7

The invention consists of the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter particularly described and then pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of the implement in elevation. Fig. 2 1s a vertical sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line'3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a sectional view throu h the penetrating-point of the implement, ta en on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 6 is a detail vertical section, on an. enlarged scale, particularly illustrating the arrangement of the discharge-passage of the reservoir and the valve therefor.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a suitable reservoir, which in the present instance is in the form of an elongated tube. This reservoir isdesigned to contain a liquid of such character as to kill or destroy the weeds when applied thereon or to the roots of the same. The upper open end of the tube is closed by a suitable cap 11.

At its lower end the tube 10 is provided with a suitable penetrator 12, which in the resent instance is tapered or conical ins ape and brought to a point, as shown, and is provided at its upper end with a threaded stem 13, adapted to be screwed into the solid end 14 of the tube 10. The penetrator 12 has a suitable passage, which may be in the form of a longitudinal channel 15, the lower end of zvhiph terminates at the point of the penetra lower on of t e tube 10 and terminating atthe upper end of the passage 15 of the penetrator 12. The passage 17 1s provided with a conical seat 18, to which is adapted a conical valve 19, as clearly shown in Fig. 6,. The valve 19 is provided with a stem 20, which extends upwardly along the tube 10 and is provided atits upper end with a finger-piece 21. The upper end of the valve stem 20 passes through suitable guides 22, which consist in the present instance of apertured'plates fixed to the tube 10. An expansion-spring 23 is coiled about the stem 20 and located between the guides 22. One end of the spring reacts against the upper guide 22 and a shoulder 2 1, which 'in the present instance consists of a pin passing through the valve-stem. Upward movement of the valve-stem is limited by a stop 25, which takes the form of a screw entering the stem 20 and adapted to engage the upper guide 22.

A housing is provided for the spring 23 and consistsin the present'instance of side plates 26, fixed to the tube 10 between the guide-plates 22 and a door27, one edge of which is hinged to one of the plates 26, while the other .edge is adapted to be secured to the other plate 26 by means of a removable pin 28, which passes through suitable coinciding eyes 29 at the free edge of the door and the adjacent side plate 26. A stationary fingerrest 30, fixed to the tube 10 adjacent the pull 21, may also be provided for convenience .in'

manipulating the implement. When it is desired to use the cap 11 is removed and the reservoir fille with a suitable li uid. The implement is then grasped in t e hand with the alm the implement againstthe top or cover'of the tube an the oint of the penetrator pressed or inserted into the heart of the plant or weed at the root thereof with its point more or less deep, according to the toughness or hardiness of the plant. The finger-piece 30 and ull 21 are then engaged by the fingers and t e pull elevated, thereby unseating the valve 19 and opening the passage 17. The 1i uid flows out from the reservoir through the 'schargepassage into the passage 15 of the penetrator and flows downwardly'into the heart or root of the plant. The valve 19 is maintained in its open position only long enough to permit the desired quantity of liquid to pass the same, and in practice it has been found that a few drops is suflicient to kill an ordinary weed. The pull 21 is then released to permit the valve to close. The valve should not be opened until the instrument has-been inserted into the weed in order to prevent the liquid from coming into contact with other plants. I l

Theimplement is particularly useful for killing weeds on lawns and other places where hoeing cannot be done, although it'is obvious that it may be used with equally advantageous resultswherever weeds are to be found.

The penetrator may be readily removed in the event that it becomes broken or needs bular reservoir having a discharge-passage, a

pointed penetrator at the lower end of the tube and having a longitudinal passage communicating with the discharge-passage and terminating at the point of the penetrator, and a valve controlling the discharge-passa e.

$2. In a device of the class'described, a tubular reservoir having a discharge-passage, a conical pointed penetrator at the lower end of the reservoir and having a longitudinal channel communicating with the dischargepassage and terminating at the point of the penetrator, a valve controlling the dischargepassage and provided with a finger-pull, and a spring for closing the valve.

3. In a device of the class described, a reservoir consisting of a tube adapted to contain a vegetation-destroying liquid and having a dischargeassage, a tapered penetrating-point'secure to the lower end of the tube and having a longitudinal channel the upper end of which is in communication with the discharge-passa e, a conical valve adapted to open and close t e passa e and having a stem rovided at its upperen with a pull, a shouler on the stem, a guide for the stem fixed to the tube, and a coll-spring reacting between the guide and the shoulder to maintain the valve in its closing position.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a tubular reservoir having a valve-controlled discharge-passage, of a pointed penetrator fixed to the tube and havmg a passage terminating at the penetratorpoint for conducting the contents of the reservoir to the plant-or weed into which the penetrator-point is inserted.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HERMAN THOENI.

Witnesses:

GEORGE W. ODELL, DANIEL MICHEL. 

